Description

This volume gathers the surviving fragments of several celebrated pagan critics who challenged early Christianity, bringing together the arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, the emperor Julian, and related testimonies from historians like Josephus and Tacitus. Each piece is presented in clear translation, accompanied by brief notes that help modern ears grasp the philosophical and theological stakes of the ancient debates. Listeners will hear the fierce rhetoric of a world in flux, where temples were razed, statues repurposed, and new empires sought to define the divine.

The editor also includes a rare oration by Libanius defending the pagan temples, as well as excerpts from early church historians such as Bingham, offering a balanced glimpse of how both sides framed their claims. Throughout, the commentary stays focused on illuminating meaning rather than polemical victory, allowing you to hear the arguments as they were intended. By the end of the first act, you’ll have a vivid sense of the intellectual clash that shaped the religious landscape of the third century.

Details

Full title

Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians Also Extracts from Diodorus Siculus, Josephus, and Tacitus, Relating to the Jews, Together with an Appendix

Language

Duration

~2 hours (159K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by David Widger

Release date

2011-10-10

Rights

Public domain in the USA.